Decarbonizing Transport Giants: Power-to-X for Air, Sea, and Road.
Decarbonizing Transport Giants: Power-to-X for Air, Sea, and Road.
At the World Power-to-X Summit 2025 in Marrakech, Panel 12 brought together leading voices from shipping, ports, automotive, industry, and regulation to tackle one of the hardest challenges of the energy transition: decarbonising transport giants across air, sea, and road. Moderated by Dr. Mustapha Taoumi, Deputy Team Leader, MED-GEM Network, the session offered a dynamic and engaging discussion with panellists:
- Karim Fahssis, Country Manager, Maersk Morocco
- Monica Swanson, Port of Rotterdam
- Dr. Daniel Neumann, FEV Consulting GmbH
- Faouzi Annajah, CEO & Founder, NAMX
- Ayoub Hirt, IRESEN
Together, they explored whether Power-to-X solutions – including e-fuels and hydrogen derivatives – can scale quickly enough to transform long-distance transport.
Scaling E-fuels: From “0 to 1” and Beyond
Karim Fahssis (Maersk) reflected on the shipping sector’s progress:
“We’ve moved from 0 to 1 with methanol-fueled vessels. The next step is scaling from 1 to 100, and Morocco can play a strategic role in that journey.”
Takeaway: Shipping is moving into the decarbonisation era, but scaling requires aligning Morocco’s renewable capacity with global supply chain expertise.
Ports as Hydrogen Gateways
Monica Swanson (Port of Rotterdam) brought a port operator’s perspective:
“Green corridors, CCS, and blending obligations will be decisive in building the first reliable markets for e-fuels.”
Takeaway: Infrastructure development at ports is central – and policy frameworks (IMO rules, EU quotas) are what will create predictable demand signals.
Technology Choices Across Transport Modes
Dr. Daniel Neumann (FEV Consulting) highlighted the technology split between modes:
“Road freight will lean more on batteries, but aviation and maritime will inevitably depend on sustainable e-fuels.”
Takeaway: Technology choices must reflect sector realities, with aviation and shipping locked into Power-to-X pathways.
Morocco’s Strategic Role
Ayoub Hirt (IRESEN) underlined Morocco’s positioning:
“Through R&D platforms like Green Energy Park, Morocco is pioneering pilots that de-risk technologies before they scale.”
Takeaway: Morocco can become a global hub for e-fuels, provided it leverages its renewables, invests in pilots, and aligns with international standards.
Linking Innovation to Local Value
Faouzi Annajah (NAMX) brought an automotive innovation angle:
“E-fuels must not only be export-ready: they must also create value locally by matching renewable production with consumer markets.”
Takeaway: Scaling Power-to-X is not only about exports but also about local integration and socio-economic benefits.
Power-to-X and the Future of Transport: Key Insights
Panel 12 confirmed that while technology is advancing, the real challenge lies in creating bankable, harmonised frameworks that attract investment and enable scaling. MED-GEM Network, as Institutional Partner of the session, underlined its role as a facilitator of dialogue between EU institutions, Moroccan stakeholders, and industry leaders.